Kerry Folk. Let's leave Gratuitous Attacks to others. Let's give thanks

[WiseMen]

for the magic that has graced the campaign so far.

From what I know, John has done everything to have as positive
a campaign as possible.

IMHO, negative charges are only valid against an opponent who is leading
in public opinion and one needs to wake up the voter to fact they
don't know or to clearly demonstrate differences in policy or credentials.

As the current leader in public opinion John doesn't need to
criticize his competitors.

[curse10]

1. Here here!

We need to stop kicking the negative threads to the top of the board. Let's stay out of the mess! Post the positive and keeps those at the top!

[THUNDER HANDS]

2. Yup

One of the advantages to being a leader during the primaries as opposed to before them, is that you can accentuate the positive about yourself and not spend time attacking others.

I wish all Kerry supporters did the same thing and I hope Kerry's campaign continues to do that throughout the primary season.

[oasis]

3. That's right, he's taking a "presidential" posture. And it's becoming.

[bicentennial_baby]

4. Bwahahahaha!

"John has done everything to have as positive
a campaign as possible."

Sure he has...you keep on believing that.

“If you like Dick Cheney so much that you want another Republican lobbyist in the White House, then Wes Clark may be your guy. But if you want a fighter with a thirty-five year track record of taking on the special interests, then John Kerry is your candidate,” said Kerry spokesman Mark Kornblau.

http://www.johnkerry.com/pressroom/releases/pr_2004_0109c.html

[blm]

12. Kornblau is as BIG of an ass as Lehane in the Clark camp.

It always feels different when it's your guy.

Me? I see them both as scum. Why blame the candidates? I didn't blame Clark or people here for Lehane's tactics.

[Raya]

45. Who is Kornblau?

[blm]

5. Yes....

And let those who refuse to acknowledge his lifetime of efforts for progressive values amd exposing government corruption shame themselves.

[windansea]

6. gratuitous attacks huh??

that's gratuitous and an attack as well

"From what I know, John has done everything to have as positive
a campaign as possible."

that's a laughable statement

[WiseMen]

10. More Tears that Laughter when Dean was cutting John to pieces and John

was not responding. A large number of John's campaign folk left him
because of this. That is the information I have. Do you have
different.

[salin]

15. ah but Kerry's folks were responding... just not out in the open

http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A6146-2003Dec16?language=printer

Kerry Staffer's Attack 'On Background' Backfires


By Howard Kurtz

Wednesday, December 17, 2003; Page A04


Sen. John F. Kerry's campaign spokeswoman is deeply unhappy with the New York Times' chief political correspondent for quoting her criticism of Howard Dean.

The reason? The Massachusetts Democrat's team made the attack in an e-mail to reporters that contained a note asking that it be treated on "background," attributed only to a Democratic campaign. Adam Nagourney refused to go along.

(snip)

Nagourney, who previously outed "background" e-mails from aides to Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (Conn.), John Edwards (N.C.) and Bob Graham (Fla.), said: "If someone wants to go off the record, call me up, and I'll be glad to negotiate. But you cannot do it preemptively. I will not let someone attack someone else anonymously, which is what the Kerry campaign is trying to do."

Cutter, who sent Nagourney angry e-mail messages, says her staff is trying to provide a "truth squad" about Dean. "This campaign has no problem going on the record about the facts in this race," Cutter said. "We've never had a problem with ground rules before." Meanwhile, the Kerry camp has sent another "background" e-mail titled "An Illustrated Guide to Howard Dean's Foreign Policy." Nagourney didn't get one.

more...

It seems to me that the 'positive campaign' has been illusory - and Kerry has been just as guilty as the others (except Clark), just a little more deceptive in the methods. For verification - remember the debate where the Kerry folks sent a fax to a moderator DURING THE DEBATE and it got read on the air... "oops". The practice is nothing new - but it belies the "Kerry runs a positive campaign" line that folks are pushing.

[WiseMen]

43. Would you put bets on the attack horse race. Think I know who wins.

[funky_bug]

39. A positive campaign?

Golly... he must be so upset at the flyers that were sent out attacking other candidates, IN HIS NAME! I sure hope someone gets to the bottom of this!

[WiseMen]

44. Let's have an independent evaluation of all flyers and tactics. OK?

[Raya]

49. We would love your support

[quinnox]

7. agreed

I'm not saying a word about Clark, for example, who I have some doubts about.

And I have only good things to say about Edwards.

Let the smear artists give it their best shot, I have a feeling Kerry will be standing tall no matter what they throw at him.

[BeyondGeography]

8. Standing tall, and aiming low

Kerry's losing a lot of people on this board with his tactics.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=188951

[Uzybone]

29. Kerry losing people on this board

that must be a joke. This board is almost as antiKerry as youll find.

[Raya]

47. kick

[emulatorloo]

9. Agreed

I really see a lot of good in all the candidates. Grauitous attacks aren't good, and I have tried hard not to post things that might be interpreted that way.

[bigtree]

11. We all have to work harder

at not letting republican talking points into our debate.

Thanks for the post. :D

[adadem]

13. I am trying

but I get so upset with the lies, the skull junk, ohhh arrrrgh! Between the trolls at the blog, forum, putting up with FReepers locally....ohhh arrrgh!

[WiseMen]

16. It is totally maddening.

[nightperson]

21. "the lies,

the skull junk, ohhh arrgh!"- my sentiments exactly. Would almost make a good t-shirt or avatar, but then who wants to be constantly reminded of the clowns? Who in their right mind can even keep up with all the negative Kerry threads anyway, and who has that much time to spend here? Let them sink back to the sludge from which they crawled.

[zulchzulu]

28. Whoever does the "Skull and Bones" stuff gets the "Ignore"

It makes DU much nicer.

Childish claptrap about Skull and Bones is usually a tendency of certain people left with nothing reasonable to talk about. I leave that type of discussion to the folks who saw aliens who abducted them last night and other intellectually-starved follies.

[Sensitivity]

36. I have a friend that Raves on about S&B. Not me personally. I don't Know

much about such things.

[BeatleBoot]

14. One needs thick skin in this business

Thicker, the better.

The Kerry train kept a'rollin' all night long, the Kerry train kept a'rollin' all night long...

[Raya]

48. It is going to get worse, I am sure.

[Sensitivity]

17. Good for you. Kerry poster seem less agressive anyway.

[isbister]

41. not less agressive, more intelligent

Of course we have a very high opinion of ourselves. ;-)

[jpgpenn]

18. You should get those views across to your candidate...

after all it his game that everyone else will now follow!

[Raya]

19. I was burned by Dean. Sorry. Hard to deal with those you know what.

[JohnKleeb]

20. If I could do it as a Kucinich supporter, I can do it while I Am for both

easily. At least Kerry wont be called a gnome guys :).

[IndianaGreen]

22. Why don't you tell that to Kerry

and tell him to stop his dirty campaign tactics in NH?

Your candidate is dirty!

[Raya]

23. I guess you should contact CNN. They don't think Kerry is being dirty.

Just the opposite.

[Forkboy]

32. Well if CNN thinks so

who are we doubt that bastion of truth and honesty?

[molly]

25. Please explain?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

24. Push-polling, fake robo calls, flyers....

As positive as possible.

[WiseMen]

31. What is the push-polling all about?

[Loren645]

26. Guess you haven't seen the flyers Kerry is cranking out as fast as he can

trashing the other candidates.

The supporters display a higher level of leadership than the candidate.

[bicentennial_baby]

27. Still going

They were handing them out to people exiting the Clark event in Epping, NH the other day.

[funky_bug]

40. Maybe they could try flyers with words of praise from other candidates

Or maybe they can't find any.

Sorry, I've tried to be little-miss lovefest on here, and that didn't work out so well, so I'm tellin' it like it is.

Kerry said he wanted Dean to run a clean campaign. Why should any of our candidates run a clean campaign, when Kerry himself is burning up the NH mailboxes with negative flyers?

I'm just callin' this one like I see it.

[Althion]

42. Say it, sister!

http://www.tnr.com/blog/campaignjournal?pid=1242

[La_Serpiente]

30. I agree Wisemen

I don't want to legitimize petty attacks and reward negative behaviour.

If it was over a policy issue, then that would be fine. However, crap that Kerry is a war criminal because he killed people in Vietnam is beyond me.

[Forkboy]

33. Funny how you ask for peace

after people like yourself did everything you could to tear down Dean.

[WiseMen]

34. Not Me. I Always Critique Dean Based on Principle. Feel Free To Attack

My plea is for Kerry Supporters to be gracious and give thanks
for good fortune in the contest.

[Forkboy]

35. of course it was

[WiseMen]

37. This is so hard with Dean Surging in all the Crap flying on the board

[HuckleB]

38. It's a little late.

Especially since the Kerry campaign could give a rip about such advice.

[Raya]

46. Congratulations to all on a great positive campaign